Artists Assess Freedom of Expression in the Year 2020

February 20 2021

The Fritt Ord Foundation and TSL Analytics invite the public to a live-streamed launch of a report and discussion from 2 to 3.30 p.m. on Thursday, 11 March 2021.

Do artists believe that freedom of expression has been strengthened or weakened over the past five years? Which changes would they deem worthy of mention, and what specific experiences have they themselves had with a view to curtailments on freedom of expression? In what ways have freedom of expression and artistic freedom been subject to pressure? The report ‘Artists Assess Freedom of Expression in the Year 2020’ is a sequel to the preceding survey in 2014, highlighting events and trends in four fields: literature, dramatic art, visual art and film.

The report is the first publication in Fritt Ord’s Monitoring Project – The Status of Freedom of Expression in Norway 2020–21. It has been written by Tore Slaatta and Hanne M. Okstad of TSL Analytics. How does the report affect the work of the Freedom of Expression Commission, and is it possible to say anything about future developments?

Following an introductory presentation by Tore Slaatta, there will be a discussion featuring:

Pia Maria Roll, dramatic artist
Kjersti Løken Stavrum, chair of the Norwegian Freedom of Expression Commission
Gelawesh Waledkhani, visual artist

Moderator: Jonas Ekeberg, critic, curator and head of the House of Photography in Oslo

The report will be published on the Fritt Ord Foundation’s website at 12.00 noon on 11 March.

The seminar will be streamed here on Fritt Ord’s website as well as on its Facebook page.

News

The Genocide in Gaza and Big Tech

October 2 2025

Sunday, 19 October 2025 at 3.30 PM at Cinemateket, Oslo
Fritt Ord, Masahat and Oslo Dokumentarkino invite you to a lecture and conversation with Nadim Nashif about Big Tech’s complisity in the genocide in Gaza.

What's happening in Georgia?

September 22 2025

Monday 29 September 2025 at 6.30–8 pm at Vega Scene, Oslo

“While art is often relegated to the bottom of financial priorities, it paradoxically becomes the first target of dictators.”

Fritt Ord invites you to a presentation of a hyper-relevant, upcoming documentary film “Untitled” from Georgia and a conversation with two film directors about the political developments in the country in collaboration with Oslo Dokumentarkino, Stray Dogs Norway, Viken Filmsenter and the Norwegian Film Federation. Journalist Ingerid Salvesen is the moderator. For the safety of the filmmakers, we will not mention their names in advance.

“This documentary is not for the faint of heart” New grants awarded in September 2025.

September 19 2025

Integral Film has been given grant for the production of the documentary “Rehearsal for Justice” by Palestinian filmmaker Dalia AlKury. “The film is not for the faint of heart,” says the director. See all the projects that received funding in September 2025.

Free Media Awards for 2025

September 9 2025

The Fritt Ord Foundation and the ZEIT Stiftung Bucerius hereby announce that the Free Media Awards for 2025 will be presented to media outlets and journalists from Ukraine, Georgia, Hungary, Russia, Belarus and Azerbaijan